Sir, – As an animal shelter with 79 dogs currently in our care, we would like to bring to the attention of your readers the distress caused to dogs by our current heat wave. One of the worst things you can do to a dog is keep him tied up. But if the sun is shining, it is particularly cruel.
Make sure that your dog’s kennel is in a very shaded spot and that he never runs out of water while you are at work.
Most of us have experienced that horrible feeling when you get into the car on a hot summers day and the windows and doors have been closed. First your burn your posterior on the seat, then your burn your hands on the steering wheel and the air is so heavy you cannot breathe.
Imagine getting into that car with a heavy woolly jumper on and you will feel what your dog feels. But what is uncomfortable for us can be fatal for your dog so never leave a pet in a parked car for any length of time – just 10 minutes in a car in sunshine and a dog can collapse even on overcast days. In fact when it is 22 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 47 degrees within 60 minutes.
The rules for cats are very much the same as with dogs. Lots of water, shady spots and ventilation. – Yours, etc,
GINA HETHERINGTON,
PAWS Animal Rescue,
Sallins,
Co Kildare.